first attempt at box joints on my incra ultra

Finally decided to play around with my new router, lift, table, and fence, well, finally had time. I have been wanting to practice box joints and dovetails, so i decided to make my other half a keepsake box, and incorporate our newborn daughter into the project as well. I have to say, i wish i would have bought the incra fence for my router table long ago. I have had one on my ts for awhile now, and have been quite pleased with it, and this thing doesn’t disappoint on the rt either. There is a learning curve, but some careful reading, attention to setup, and a couple practice cuts, and this thing is fail proof, any mistakes i found in my practice cuts were human error and no fault of the fence system, nor the templates. Thanks to many a post on here from fellow wood workers, learning from their experiences, my learning curve wasn’t as steep as it could have been, thank you all for the advice, even if you didn’t know you had given it.

Setup is key, i dont even test cut for center anymore, i mark center of board on the end line up mark to center of bit, bring the fence up to the edge of the board and lock, while maintaining the boardis still centered to bit, then slide the template to recommended center point on the cursor. As for bit height, the recommendations are pretty close, but i Like to see my bit just a tad proud of the stock thickness, this leaves my box joints, slightly proud, and can later be sanded down. I’ve worked out most of the kinks, and would be happy to answer any questions.

You’re only about 8 – 10 hours from me if you want to swing by real quick and set up mine that would be great ;)

When I got mine it was at the time my dad died and I needed to make the box for his remains. Using a jig like that is not for when you are in a hurry, not when you are trying to learn, and not when you are in a poor frame of mind. I had all three. I instead made the box with some rabbeted ends and set the jig aside. I’ll attack it again this winter using your advice and I’ll probably hit you up again for pointers.

-- Schooled in the advanced art of sawdust and woodchip manufacturing.

More than happy to help, let me know when you have an hour or so and want to give it another try, you can call me. Also, do you have the template book and templates? If not, you almost have to have those.

Great looking box … Box joints can be tricky, and I learned that if I use a brass set up block the same as the bit it works out just fine. (1/4” block and a 1/4”bit) ... Use the block between the bit and the pin.On your top, try a compound miter using your 45° set up and put a 15° to 30°bevel on the miter cut, it will give you a domed effect …I’m right here in Arizona if you want to swing by ..

More than happy to help, let me know when you have an hour or so and want to give it another try, you can call me. Also, do you have the template book and templates? If not, you almost have to have those.

- swdst

I don’t recall seeing those. Did they come with ity or are they separate?

-- Schooled in the advanced art of sawdust and woodchip manufacturing.

Each guide in the book is marked, i.e. boxa or dovf, which corresponds to a template that slides in your jig just as the rulers do, you put in the template you want, lock fence with stock on center to to bit, with fence locked, slide template to recommended center on cursor, you choose which is front and back, and which are sides, one of the will be blue marks, the other are in red, you line up the marks, lock fence, and cut